By Sue Jackson
While driving down the road in the summer months, one can see common sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) growing in waste areas, typically in a drainage ditch. They always look like they are having fun, blowing and growing every which way. During the fall, a few years back, we stopped along the road and gathered some dried flowerheads. The following year, in early spring, I planted the seeds. A spot was selected where the rain drains from the driveway — conditions similar to the ditch along the road.
Later that summer we were rewarded with very tall, prolific flowering plants. They were watered close to the ground only a few times after the initial planting to avoid mildew growth. Besides being a nice cut flower, the whole bed was a real “WOW!”coming down the driveway. Guests stopped to take their picture next to them.
The fun continued as the flowers formed seeds. A favorite pass time became watching all the goldfinches who perched on the heavy seed heads, bent over, and pulled out the seeds. As the summer went on, these annuals got kind of scruffy looking. The flower stems were cut to make a dried bouquet that was hung outside the window. And so, the entertaining goldfinch show continued on the dried flower bouquet. What remained on the bottoms of the plants was pulled out, and it went in the green waste bin.
Lots of fun for little effort!
Sue lives in Fallbrook near the Santa Margarita River Preserve. The trails through the valley serve as her inspiration in planning a native chaparral garden that blends into the wild.